After searching for the Internet for means/ways of throttling bittorrent traffic using opensource methods, I found out about l7-filter and tc to control the amount of bandwidth for identified protocols. Downloaded the files and patched the kernel of my ubuntu server to enable netfilter support.

The compiling took quite a long time on the server. Packaging as deb file also took an awefully long time. The good thing is that the kernel installation went fine without any kernel panic on boot up. Tested the l7filter and then I realized.

bittorrent.pat doesn’t recognize all bittorrent traffic as majority are encrypted

Oh gosh. I can’t even mark the traffic correctly! Then why not I prioritize those protocols that are time sensitive (e.g. SIP). Edited  the configuration to prioritize skypeout and skypetoskype protocols. The marking of traffic went fine, except there’s one problem.

it doesn’t differentiate skype messaging and skype call

Another slap to forehead. Time to try out ipp2p.

Got a piece of WRT54GS recently. It came with 32mb of ram. 16mb more ram than my current WRT54G! More ram = more stable? Something to be proven. At least, it is more stable for kismet.

Found out that DD-WRT V23 SP2 doesn’t really suit my purpose. The IPKG is buggy or rather most of the installed package doesn’t work, hence changed the firmware to openwrt. My aim of getting a WRT54G is not to use it as a router. It’s ultimate aim is to work as a dedicated unix box. Was amazed at how people do configuration or administration of servers using command line interface. This WRT54G provided me with a chance to toy with command line interfaces. Best of all, exploring the limits of these embedded devices (hopefully I don’t brick it). Currently installed packages are – nano (using nano as I yet to master VI or VIM), nmap, BitchX, kismet (client and server), and the list goes on.

Just incase you are wondering how come there is so much space on the router. I mapped a share over and did all the installations down there. Edited the startup script to do the mapping of samba share over automatically as well.

Just a piece of advise, after getting the openwrt firmware. Install the x-wrt webif package. It makes web administration easier. Need to allow remote administration through web or ssh or both and cant find the webif configuration page? Just edit the firewall rules to allow listening on the ports.

Got time then try installing various package on it, first need the samba to be up.

The packages arrived from ubuntu. Got lots of of live cds and installation cds. Live cd refers to just popping it into a cdrom bootable system and you will be running the operating system off the cd. Good to test if your system supports linux or not. And test if it supports ubuntu.

Anyway wants it? Drop me a message and will meet up to pass the cd.

“Thirty-seven per cent of those who download illegally don’t care if the material is copyrighted”

That’s the result of the study on consumer piracy here by the Intellectual Property Academy (IPA) of Singapore.
From Life! of The Straits Times, Tuesday, January 18, 2005, page 14.

Well, seems like alot still don’t know or they chose to heck care about the copyright law passed on at the start of this year.

Lets hope that softwares and movies will be made cheaper to the public.

Personally i feel that Singapore can be so proficient with IT is mainly due to piracy. They made softwares available to low income families. School mainly uses popular softwares like macromedia dreamweaver, adobe photoshop. Can students afford to buy it so that they can use to develop their projects? Don’t think so.

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